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Double Bass cars for double bass?

#42
laboitenoire said:
Don't play double-bass, but my '96 Honda Odyssey is great. I can fit two basses, a pretty large combo amp, effects box, two guitar stands, cables, and four people! Plus, the middle row comes out, so it can haul a set of shower doors. And then there was the time that we hauled six people about 70 miles in one day with various luggage and shopping bags in back... That car can load up, but don't expect to go anywhere. On the interstate, there's a huge hill that at the bottom I can easily do 70, but once I get up the top I'll be lucky if I'm doing 60. And that's only with me and my dad riding shotgun. 130 HP + 6 passenger, 3600 lb. van = severely underpowered.

I have a good friend/teacher who I help run audio at various gigs. Last summer, we fit a really big mixer rack, two 5' speaker stands, six mic stands, the stage snake, a suitcase of cables, a milk crate and another bin full of more cables, a case of mics, a box of adapters, a couple dinners and ourselves into his CR-V. The only thing we couldn't fit was the speaker cabs, which came with the guy who was running the show.
Click to expand...

I have both the Odyssey and the CRV currently. I can fit the whole band with equipment in the Odyssey and we've done this for long distance gigs. The CRV can also hold a boat load of stuff....bass, PA, amp, stands, 2nd passenger etc.

What I find about Hondas that annoys me is that certain parts are made cheaply in order to keep the cost of the vehicle down. For example brakes and rotors. At 126,000 I've gone thru 3 sets of rotors and 4 sets of brakes. This is my 5th
honda and has never happened to me before. I complained to Honda and they said its very common. :mad:

Also, I have become increasingly frustrated with our reliance on foreign oil. Its bad for our economy and its bad for the environment. We have to start doing something different.

If only there was a well-built 4-wheel drive that got close to 40mpg. I don't think it exists yet.
 
#43
Yeah, in my Odyssey, it's the ABS modulator that's on the fritz, so the half the time I don't have ABS. But yeah, fuel economy isn't great. I maybe get 22 on the highway with mine. Be interesting when the Clubman version of the Mini hits stateside. Those should be pretty good, and they'll probably still get in the high 30s on the highway.
 
#44
2007 Mini Cooper S.

Double bass fits in from the boot with the rear seats folded down, front passenger seat folded forward a little and the headstock jammed in between front passenger seat and window.

Bass stays secure and I have full visibility. Also have room for at least a PA, one speaker and guitar, plus a few other bits and bobs.

I can fit a passenger in behind the driver seat if I have the bass lying on its side (rather than back) but I lose almost all visibility to the rear.

Have noted some Mini owners on TalkBass have fitted the headstock right through the middle of the car (freeing up the passenger seat) but I can't imagine how they do this without interfering with the gear stick and securing it so it doesn't swing wildy around.
 
#45
MingusAmongUs said:
Good for you, Wineaux. Oil companies are people too!
:hmm:
Click to expand...
Right you are!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Personhood_Debate

Oh, I drive a 1989 Saab 900 hatchback, and a 1989 VW Fox Wagon. Both can haul the bass, a 4X10 cab, a big Peavy Mark III bass head or Ampeg b15 combo and the saab can fit a few drums in addition. That's without loading up the front seat!
The Fox is a diesel, gets 40mpg+, and will soon run on free, used veggie oil. The Saab gets around 30mpg.
I'm planning on outfitting the Fox to be a bass-hauling-machine. I want to put up a cargo fence, maybe some tie-down hooks, and once the veggie oil conversion is complete I'm thinking I might delete the rear wagon windows with sheet metal to make it a "sedan delivery", inspired by the old 50's sedan delivery cars. Then I'll tint the hatch window so's nobody can see if I have to leave any gear in the car while parked.
Ooooooh, then a two-tone paint job, some nice rims, lowered suspension, 2" mandrel-bent exhaust, a big, farty muffler, shaved trim...:rolleyes:
 
#47
tyb507 said:
Right you are!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_Personhood_Debate

Oh, I drive a 1989 Saab 900 hatchback, and a 1989 VW Fox Wagon. Both can haul the bass, a 4X10 cab, a big Peavy Mark III bass head or Ampeg b15 combo and the saab can fit a few drums in addition. That's without loading up the front seat!
The Fox is a diesel, gets 40mpg+, and will soon run on free, used veggie oil. The Saab gets around 30mpg.
I'm planning on outfitting the Fox to be a bass-hauling-machine. I want to put up a cargo fence, maybe some tie-down hooks, and once the veggie oil conversion is complete I'm thinking I might delete the rear wagon windows with sheet metal to make it a "sedan delivery", inspired by the old 50's sedan delivery cars. Then I'll tint the hatch window so's nobody can see if I have to leave any gear in the car while parked.
Ooooooh, then a two-tone paint job, some nice rims, lowered suspension, 2" mandrel-bent exhaust, a big, farty muffler, shaved trim...:rolleyes:
Click to expand...

Love to hear how you make out with the veggiemobile. Good for you.

And re: "corporate personhood" -- doesn't that just make you want to puke? But I meant no disrespect to Wineaux. I know he was just kidding.
 
#48
What about transporting a DB in a full size pickup with a bed?

I know the bass will fit easily, I could probably fit 3 or 4 with ease. My question is what is the best way to actually secure a bass in the bed of a truck?

I'm an electric player shopping for a DB right now. I've got a good line on a couple and a local player or two willing to help me with the purchase.
 
#49
I think you could probably build a cradle of sorts with plywood and moving blankets and use ratcheting straps to hold it in place.
I guess in TX you don't have to worry about freezing temps, which is why I rule out a pickup.

I'm trying to build my veggie system from scratch, using salvaged parts mostly. I have an old marine outboard fuel tank for the oil, and I've started collecting other parts. I'm shooting for spending around $300, instead of the $1000+ most kits cost. We'll see how it goes.
I need to hook up the woodstove in the garage before much work happens.
 
#50
tyb507 said:
I think you could probably build a cradle of sorts with plywood and moving blankets and use ratcheting straps to hold it in place.
I guess in TX you don't have to worry about freezing temps, which is why I rule out a pickup.
Click to expand...

Hmm... sounds decent. I'll probably try to pick up an old beat up flight case off or craigslist or something, just for truck duty. It should fit under a bed cover.

And since we are talking about burning veggie oil and conservation.... I do own a truck but only drive it to the grocery store & when I'm going out to have a beer or something. I'm a full time motorcyclist. I do all of my commuting and errands on a bike, pretty much rain or shine. I regularly go 2 weeks without even starting my truck.
 
#51
I'm picking up my DB today. I've never transported one of these things and hope I don't screw something up.

Somebody stop me if this sounds dangerous:

I've got 2 large duffel bags stuffed with pillows & blankets. 1 is military duffel bag size, the other is about half that (large gym bag size).

The bass is in a padded gig bag.

I'm going to support the neck with the larger bag & the body with the smaller bag. I'll secure/support the whole bass with bungee cords. I want the whole thing to be sort of "neutral" and am going to take extra care not to put undue stress on the neck joint.

I'm very good at securing loads. I was a transportation guy in the Army (trucks, boats, trains, etc). This is what sounds best to me right now.
 
#52
Sounds like you've got it under control, and maybe even a little overkill.
The neck doesn't really need support if the bass ison its side. I usually just slide the thing into my car and take off, but it can't move very far in the bask of the Fox. It's good, in a pickup, to keep it from sliding around, and to cushion the body from the bed floor, but I'd say that's fine.
 
#56
NUTT said:
I've got 2 large duffel bags stuffed with pillows & blankets. 1 is military duffel bag size, the other is about half that (large gym bag size).

The bass is in a padded gig bag.

I'm going to support the neck with the larger bag & the body with the smaller bag. I'll secure/support the whole bass with bungee cords. I want the whole thing to be sort of "neutral" and am going to take extra care not to put undue stress on the neck joint.
Click to expand...

NUTT - As a fellow Texan and PU owner, I'm curious. How'd this work out for you? I've thought of trying the same thing but I always chicken out and stuff the bass in the cab. I've got a crew cab, so it fits, but the bed would be a lot more convenient and probably a little safer since my vision wouldn't be blocked by the bass.
 
#60
RED5 said:
The reason I don't play Doublebass is I could only afford VW beetles back 40 years ago. I have a Previa now, maybe I should try again?
Click to expand...
Hey! you can get a bass in a Beetle! Believe it or not, I got me, my foster dad (driver), my foster brother, a bike, a camp stove... (a big 2 burner), a tent, and my 3/4 double bass in a Beetle....but it wasn't easy! :smug:
2 people and bass only isn't too bad in the Beetle but rear loaders are better!
 

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